High Criminal Court sentences 12 defendants to 10 years’ imprisonment in separate cases

Manama,  The Head of the Terrorism Crimes Prosecution announced that the High Criminal Court, at its session today, Monday, issued rulings in 11 separate cases involving offences committed by several individuals, including supporting and endorsing Iran’s terrorist attacks against the Kingdom of Bahrain, obtaining and disseminating prohibited sensitive data, capturing images of restricted sites, and spreading false news and rumours through social media platforms during the Iranian aggression against the Kingdom.
 
The court sentenced 12 defendants to 10 years’ imprisonment and imposed fines of BD2,000 on some of them. It also ordered the confiscation of seized materials.
 
The Public Prosecution had received several reports from the Cyber Crime Directorate regarding social media accounts containing images, videos and comments expressing support for and approval of the Iranian terrorist attacks targeting the Kingdom of Bahrain.  The content also included the publication of sensitive data, the capturing images of restricted sites, and the dissemination of false news and rumours intended to undermine public morale, spread panic among the public, and harm public security during the Iranian aggression against the Kingdom.
 
Investigations led to the identification of the individuals operating the accounts. Upon receiving the reports, the Public Prosecution immediately launched investigations, questioning the defendants, hearing witness testimony, and assigning technical experts to examine the seized digital devices.  The examinations confirmed the defendants’ involvement in the offences attributed to them.
 
Accordingly, the Public Prosecution referred the defendants to the High Criminal Court.  The cases were heard over several sessions during which all legal guarantees were observed, including the attendance of defence counsel and the defendants’ right to present their defence, culminating in the issuance of today’s rulings.